Winning photos reveal fairy-tale worlds on Earth

If you're going hiking in the Austrian mountains next spring, you might need a wetsuit. This diver is swimming through a park that is submerged every year when Grüner See in Tragoess doubles in size.

As snow from the surrounding mountains melts, the lake swells, covering everything around it for a few weeks in the spring. With the right equipment, you can continue to enjoy the park – sitting on benches, crossing foot bridges and marvelling at the flowers and trees under the crystal clear water. This dreamlike underwater world captured the imagination of photographer Marc Henauer, who won third place in the National Geographic Traveler Photo contest this year with this image.

"The sun created fantastic light rays through the water," Henauer says. "It felt like I was swimming in a magical world, it was so beautiful".

The winning entry offers a window onto a more ominous world.

(Image: Marko Korošec)

This supercell stormcloud was photographed near Julesburg, Colorado, by Marko Korošec, an avid amateur storm chaser.

Low-precipitation supercells, like this one, can produce hailstones the size of tennis balls. They can be especially hazardous to people caught outdoors without warning. Let's hope the people in the car have noticed.

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